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Straw hit by internet fraudsters | Straw hit by internet fraudsters |
(about 22 hours later) | |
UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has been the victim of Nigerian fraudsters who sent out hundreds of e-mails in his name asking for money. | |
The e-mails claimed he had lost his wallet on charity work in Africa and needed 3,500 US dollars to get home. | The e-mails claimed he had lost his wallet on charity work in Africa and needed 3,500 US dollars to get home. |
Messages headed the Right Hon Jack Straw MP were sent to council bosses, government chiefs and others. | Messages headed the Right Hon Jack Straw MP were sent to council bosses, government chiefs and others. |
The fraudsters are thought to have hacked into computers at Mr Straw's Blackburn constituency office. | The fraudsters are thought to have hacked into computers at Mr Straw's Blackburn constituency office. |
Mr Straw has confirmed the e-mails had been sent to a "significant number of people" in his address book but he said there were no security issues as it was his Blackburn e-mail address rather than his ministerial account that was targeted. | Mr Straw has confirmed the e-mails had been sent to a "significant number of people" in his address book but he said there were no security issues as it was his Blackburn e-mail address rather than his ministerial account that was targeted. |
He told his local newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph: "I started getting phone calls from various constituents asking if I was really in Nigeria needing 3,000 dollars. | He told his local newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph: "I started getting phone calls from various constituents asking if I was really in Nigeria needing 3,000 dollars. |
"It was an issue for constituents, not the government. I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home Fake email sent to Jack Straw's contacts | "It was an issue for constituents, not the government. I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home Fake email sent to Jack Straw's contacts |
"We are checking all that and I am assured there's no evidence that confidentiality of constituents was affected." | "We are checking all that and I am assured there's no evidence that confidentiality of constituents was affected." |
When he was home secretary, Mr Straw established the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit to combat internet hackers. | When he was home secretary, Mr Straw established the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit to combat internet hackers. |
He said: "The internet is wonderful in many ways, but these gangs put a lot of effort in because they make money from it. | He said: "The internet is wonderful in many ways, but these gangs put a lot of effort in because they make money from it. |
"In a lot of cases they do get people to cough up. | "In a lot of cases they do get people to cough up. |
"But I think it was so obviously ridiculous that I could go off trekking in Africa and I would lose my wallet." | "But I think it was so obviously ridiculous that I could go off trekking in Africa and I would lose my wallet." |
'Misplaced wallet' | 'Misplaced wallet' |
The scam e-mail, which was sent to Labour members, council chiefs and Ministry of Justice officials, said Mr Straw was travelling to Africa for a project called Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, and was at an address in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos. | |
Mr Straw is quoted as saying: "I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. | Mr Straw is quoted as saying: "I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. |
"I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home". | "I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home". |
The scam came to light on Thursday when Mr Straw's office received an e-mail saying its account would be suspended unless a reply was sent. | The scam came to light on Thursday when Mr Straw's office received an e-mail saying its account would be suspended unless a reply was sent. |
But when a member of staff replied, they were blocked out of the account. | But when a member of staff replied, they were blocked out of the account. |
Constituents then began to phone Mr Straw's constituency office asking about the e-mail they had received. | Constituents then began to phone Mr Straw's constituency office asking about the e-mail they had received. |
One is believed to have replied to the e-mail, but nobody has offered any money to the fraudsters. | One is believed to have replied to the e-mail, but nobody has offered any money to the fraudsters. |
The Hotmail account was suspended by Microsoft. | The Hotmail account was suspended by Microsoft. |